Roadmap to Nonprofit, Education and Advocacy Career Success
First Year: Get Grounded
Explore Interests: Take introductory courses in fields that interest you. Don’t be afraid to take this time to engage in other professional pathway interests. Join student organizations aligned with your interests. Learn about opportunities related to your interest by joining a Career Community.
Self-Discovery:
Complete Career Self-Assessments.
Build your Handshake profile. Student User Guide
Begin narrowing interests to help choose a major. Talking with a career counselor/pre-professional advisor or visiting the College Academic Advising Center (White Hall 300) can help identify career options and give you added confidence when it is time to choose a major.
Develop Skills: Enroll in foundational courses that strengthen your industry and durable skills. Careers in Nonprofit and Advocacy. Careers in Education. Explore LinkedIn Learning courses.
Network: Attend campus events to meet upperclassmen and alumni in your field. The Career and Professional Development Pathways Center offers Networking Nights, Career Trek Trips, and more! Use Emory Connects to build connections.
Sophomore Year: Gain Experience
Explore Further: Take advanced courses in your chosen major or areas of interest. Look for opportunities to participate in research on topics aligned with your interests.
Build Skills: opt for Experiential Learning that provides real-world applications of your knowledge. Develop skills relevant to your field.
Build Resume Content: Keep a journal of accomplishments. This can include personal projects, academic projects, internship experiences, and leadership experiences. Keeping a running list of your accomplishments will be crucial when building a resume. Use VMock to develop your document.
Gain Experience: Look for internship opportunities related to your interests. Volunteer to engage with your population or topics of interest (women, mental health, sustainability) or lead a club/organization to develop durable skills.
Network: Attend career fairs and industry events to learn about job trends and connect with professionals. Talk to alumni about their career paths. Use LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool to source and build more connections. Attend Sophomore Summit, a program targeting career development needed exclusively for Sophomores!
Junior Year: Refine Your Focus
Explore Your Career Plans and Options: Begin to narrow your career goals. Research possible careers aligned with your major and connect with your career coach to learn more about the wealth of career options and job titles that exist in the Nonprofit, Education, and Advocacy industries.
Prepare for the Future: Refine your resume and online profiles (LinkedIn, Handshake, etc.) to highlight your achievements and skills. Connect with a Career Coach and leverage the available career development opportunities like the Pathways Scholar Program.
Sharpen Skills: Continue building technical and soft skills through internships, research projects, or leadership roles in student organizations.
Gear Up for Applications: Finalize your job search materials (resume, LinkedIn profile) on time keeping in mind the average internship/job search is a 4–6-month process. Prepare for interviews. Meet with your career coach to ensure that job search materials are strong and to learn more about job search best practices.
Senior Year: Launch Your Career
Build a Job Search Routine: Determine how you will stay organized and manage your job search in addition to balancing coursework.
Apply and Interview: Apply to graduate programs, internships, or full-time jobs.
Showcase Yourself: Prepare a strong interview pitch and examples that showcase your strengths and experiences.
Network Strategically: Connect with professionals in your field through conferences, alumni networks, Linkedin, and cold emailing.
Leverage Your Career Coach: Your career coach can help you prepare for interviews, practice your elevator pitch, negotiate salary and so much more!
Prepare for Graduation: Participate in career fairs and workshops offered by the CPD specifically for graduating students. Fine-tune your post-graduation plan, whether this be full-time employment, graduate school, or a gap year.
Remember: This is a general guide, and some actions might be appropriate for different years depending on your specific goals and progress.
The key is to be proactive, explore your options, and utilize the resources available at The Pathways Center!